Mike Golic Sr. adds DraftKings to busy mix of media gigs

When Mike Golic Sr. and Mike Greenberg began doing mornings on ESPN Radio in 1998, they had been solely heard on a handful of associates. By the point they had been carried out, they approached 350 stations.

By being on the bottom flooring, Golic and Greenberg had been helped in making a longtime radio hit. Golic and Greenberg broke up in 2018 after one of many extra profitable runs in sports activities radio historical past. Just a little greater than a yr in the past, ESPN lower Golic completely.

However now, Golic is having a second act and including gigs, left and proper. The most recent is a once-a-week, hour-long video podcast for DraftKings with irreverent Meadowlark persona, Jessica Smetana. The duo will talk about sports activities, whereas diving into popular culture as properly.

As is seemingly all the time the case with Golic, it's a little little bit of a household affair, as Smetana graduated from Notre Dame slightly greater than 5 years in the past with Golic’s daughter, Sydney.

“I’m positive we’ll have some enjoyable with the generational hole, as properly,” stated Golic, 59, who's, clearly, sufficiently old to be Smetana’s father.

For DraftKings, this continues its development as a sports activities media platform. It already has a relationship with Dan Le Batard’s Meadowlark podcast community, and it additionally purchased VSiN, which DraftKings views because the CNBC of sports activities betting.

Golic’s son, Mike Golic Jr., is probably not far behind, as he simply left ESPN, as properly. DraftKings or Meadowlark — perhaps each — appear to be apparent locations.

“My reply is that this: Mike is 32 years previous,” Golic Sr. stated. “He’s controlling his future. I'll let him reply that when he feels it's acceptable to reply what he’s going to do subsequent. I say that as knowledgeable line, however, actually, I’m not saying something earlier than he says something as a result of he’ll beat me up.”

Mike Golic
Mike Golic Sr.
AP

For ex-ESPNers, there may be numerous life after Bristol, largely as a result of sports activities playing corporations are altering media. Le Batard, Kenny Mayne, Trey Wingo and Golic Sr. are amongst people who have aligned with the brand new platforms.

Golic Sr. has been busy since leaving ESPN. For Peacock/NBC Sports activities’ “Professional Soccer Speak,” he teamed with Mike Florio on Mondays throughout the NFL season.

Golic Sr. loves calling video games. For Westwood One radio, he was within the sales space throughout the yr and labored the sidelines for the Tremendous Bowl. For Learfield, he did a school recreation of the week on syndicated radio. He labored podcast and preview exhibits for each entities. He's additionally continuously on Jon Weiner’s podcast, “STUpodity.”

“I did so much,” Golic stated. “At one level, my spouse even stated, ‘Geez, I believe you could be busier than you had been at ESPN.’ So I believe I’m going to check out all the things I did and clearly streamline.”

Mike Golic Sr.
Mike Golic Sr.
Getty Pictures for Radio Corridor of Fame

Golic’s physique clock has lastly adjusted to not robotically waking up at 4:15 a.m., as he did for 20 years teaming with Greenberg after which Wingo for the morning exhibits. Golic Sr. didn't need to go away ESPN a yr in the past.

“They simply didn’t need me anymore,” Golic stated. “I all the time equated it to the 2 groups that lower me. They lower me. I didn’t assume I must be lower, similar to I didn’t assume I ought to go away ESPN.”

Golic Sr. even proposed a reunion with Greenberg, however it by no means went wherever.

Golic Sr. stated he was too younger to retire. Now, he’s on the bottom flooring as DraftKings amps up its media arm.

For sports activities playing platforms, it's about partaking prospects. DraftKings’ chief media officer, Brian Angiolet, views Golic Sr. as somebody viewers belief and respect.

Golic Sr. has all the time had a likeability issue. It's, at instances, an underrated attribute when media executives decide what works on the air. Whereas ESPN didn’t assume it wanted Golic Sr., loads of others have needed to work with him. DraftKings has expanded its relationship with him.

“It will likely be fascinating to see the place playing is within the subsequent three to 5 years,” Golic Sr. stated.

Clicker Ebook Membership

With Lindsey Vonn working the Olympics for NBC, Papa Clicker reviewed Vonn’s “RISE, My Story.” This isn't a “inform all” ebook however, relatively, a narrative of a younger little one who had a imaginative and prescient to be a world-class skier and did so overcoming despair, accidents with the assistance of household and associates. It receives 4.35 out 5 clickers, which is akin to a silver medal.

Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post